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Las Vegas Shines: Caesars Entertainment Thrives on Non-Gaming Revenue Amid Overall Decline

Caesars Entertainment recently shared its financial results for the third quarter, highlighting remarkable achievements in non-gaming revenue despite an overall decline in performance. The Nevada-based casino operator experienced a 2.6% year-over-year decrease in net revenues, totaling $2.87 billion, resulting in a $9 million net loss compared to the previous year’s $74 million net income.

While gaming tables didn’t perform as strongly as the previous year, Las Vegas operations demonstrated impressive results in other areas. The company achieved record-breaking third-quarter revenues in hotel occupancy, food and beverage sales, and banquet services. Hotel occupancy rates reached an impressive 97.1%, contributing
significantly to these record-breaking figures.

The Las Vegas Strip continues to diversify its entertainment offerings beyond traditional casino gaming. Visitors can choose from a wide array of experiences, including celebrity chef restaurants like Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill at MGM Grand and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace. Entertainment options span from magical performances by David Copperfield at MGM Grand to Penn & Teller’s shows at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.

The Strip’s entertainment landscape is further enhanced by five distinct Cirque du Soleil productions, including Michael Jackson One at Mandalay Bay and O at Bellagio. Musical entertainment features prominent artists in residence, such as Adele’s “Weekends With Adele” at the Caesars Palace Colosseum and Donny Osmond at Harrah’s Showroom.

For families, venues like Circus Circus Hotel and Casino offer unique daytime entertainment with their Carnival Midway arcade and live circus performances, creating a family-friendly atmosphere while maintaining gaming restrictions for those under 21.

CEO Tom Reeg addressed the company’s performance, noting that while Las Vegas Ebitda decreased by approximately $10 million, this decline was primarily attributed to gaming table results rather than poor performance. The table holdings remained within expected ranges but didn’t match the previous year’s stronger showing.

A particularly bright spot in the company’s portfolio was Caesars Digital, which achieved unprecedented success with $303 million in revenues and $52 million in adjusted Ebitda, marking significant growth from the mere $2 million reported in the same quarter last year. This digital segment demonstrated impressive
quarter-over-quarter growth as well, with adjusted Ebitda increasing 30% from the second quarter’s $40 million.

The overall adjusted Ebitda for the company showed a modest 4% decline, reaching $1 billion compared to $1.04 billion in the previous year’s quarter. Despite this slight decrease, the strong performance in non-gaming sectors and digital operations helped maintain relatively stable results during a challenging period.

These results reflect the evolving nature of Las Vegas entertainment, where success increasingly depends on a diverse range of offerings beyond traditional casino gaming. The strong performance in hotel occupancy, food and beverage, and entertainment sectors demonstrates the effectiveness of this diversified approach, even as traditional gaming revenues face occasional fluctuations.

The growing importance of digital operations, as evidenced by the record-breaking performance of Caesars Digital, suggests a shifting landscape in the gaming industry, where online platforms are becoming increasingly significant contributors to overall revenue streams.